Independent DIGITAL MENS LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE BRINGING YOU THE COOLEST THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER. JOIN US AND 100,000 READERS Each & EVERY MONTH. – Average Joe

EPL Predictions & Team News 29/30 Jan 2013

The Premier League never stands still. We miss a weekend through FA Cup fixtures and then treated to a full midweek fixture list spread over two nights. Let’s hope the results are as interesting as they’ve been in both the domestic cups over the past 7 days.

Without further ado, let’s crack on!

Aston Villa v Newcastle – Tuesday 29 January 2013 – 19.45 KO

Hand on hearts how many of you would have this down as relegation six pointer back in August? I may have had Villa watching their backs, but a Newcastle side who seemed to have pace, power and guile this time last year?

Anyway, in between the writing of this and the game being played, Newcastle will have signed three more Frenchman and Villa will have been knocked out of the Midlands 5-a-side league by Fulchester Uniteds U13s!!

Premier League Team News: Villa will bring back Gabby Agbonlahor and Benteke after resting them against Millwall, however Delphs injury in the same game forces him out. Newcastle welcome back Steven Taylor to steady the back line and French quartet Yanga-Mbiwa, Gouffran, Haidara and Sissoko are all available.Premier League Betting Prediction: 2-1Dream Team Star Man: Charles N’Zogbia

QPR v Manchester City – Tuesday 29 January 2013 – 19.45 KO

‘Arry would have been looking forward to last weekend’s game against MK Dons, a chance to have a look at some of his second string he may not have seen properly since taking over, whilst comfortably booking a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup. Oh Dear!! Sky Sports News on the other hand will have loved it, knowing full well that the Rangers team may be overhauled again before the end of the month and will now get their obligatory interview with ‘Arry from a car window.

City will be rubbing their hands at this fixture, especially as it gives them a chance to close the gap on United, if only for 24 hours.

Premier League Team News: Rangers will ring the changes after resting a lot of players in their cup defeat. Wright-Phillips is doubtful however and Ferdinand has joined Bursaspor on loan until the end of the season. Remy should have recovered from his tight hamstring. City will have to replace Kompany who injured his calf last week, whilst it is unclear whether Ballotelli has travelled with the squad after being linked with a move back home. Diakite and the Toure brothers are still on international duty.Premier League Betting Prediction: 1-3Dream Team Star Man: Kun Aguero

Stoke City v Wigan – Tuesday 29 January 2013 – 19.45 KO

Stoke put up a good show against Manchester City in the cup at the weekend and will look to this as their springboard to improve after failing to win in their last four EPL showings.

Wigan have more pressing problems, they now find themselves kept off the bottom only by QPR and a run of only one win in ten looks unlikely to improve at Fortress Britannia.

Premier League Team News: Geoff Cameron is a doubt for the home side, whilst Wigan have Arouna Kone on African Cup of Nations duty.Premier League Betting Prediction: 2-0Dream Team Star Man: Steven N’Zonzi

Sunderland v Swansea – Tuesday 29 January 2013 – 19.45

I think I may have done The Swans a slight disservice last time out thinking that their minds may well be focused to their impending Capital One Cup Semi Final. Michael Laudrup showed what his side’s mental state is like by beating Stoke and then keeping a clean sheet against Chelsea. What a week!

However, Sunderland have won back to back in the EPL and seem to have found a little more creativity in their side, which will be needed against a Swansea team who are happy to sit deep, defend the edge of their box and then quickly counter.

Premier League Team News: Cuellar, Rose and Cattermole are still on Sunderlands lengthy injury list, whilst Laudrup has a decision to make over Danny Graham who appears to want to leave (for Sunderland!). Kemy Agustein is also out for 4 weeks.Premier League Betting Prediction: 1-0Dream Team Star Man: Adam Johnson

Arsenal v Liverpool – Wednesday 30 January 2013 – 19.45 KO

It was like Back to the Future last time out for Arsenal, in a sublime 7 minute spell against West Ham they seemed to repay the belief Arsene Wenger has in his team, whether they will be able to kick on and get back into the Champions League spaces is another thing.

Liverpool seem to be have this knack of taking 2 steps forward and then one back, and this reared its head again on Sunday in the cup. Does anyone know the way to Oldham?

Premier League Team News: Vermaelen should be passed fit after sitting out the Brighton cup fixture at the weekend, whilst Gervinho is away with the Ivory Coast. Arteta is still rated as doubtful. Liverpool have no new injury worries.Premier League Betting Prediction: 1-1Dream Team Star Man: Lukas Podolski

Everton v West Bromwich Albion – Wednesday 30 January 2013 – 19.45 KO

Everton will be counting down the days until the end of January, when they will either celebrating or consoling themselves over the future of Fellani amongst others.

Deadline day doom is also casting a cloud over The Hawthorns with Peter Odemwingie’s head allegedly been turned by the lure of the bright lights of London and a double your salary offer to go with it, but probably Championship football with QPR.

Premier League Team News: Everton will be hoping Mirallas and Coleman are passed fit although the game has come round too early for potential new signing Leroy Fer. The Baggies will have Shane Long back as well as Yacob after injury. However Mulumbu is still on international duty.Premier League Betting Prediction: 1-1Dream Team Star Man: Shane Long

Norwich v Tottenham – Wednesday 30 January 2013 – 19.45 KO

For some reason, the first felling of a top flight club by a non-League side since 1989 didn’t make too many headlines this weekend, but I’m sure Norwich will feel aggrieved enough to go and pull out all the stops and cause an upset of their own. Now is perhaps a good time to play Spurs as well as they are suffering from a severe shortage of firepower.

Premier League Team News: Norwich still do not know when Morison is going to be fit, but have no new worries. Tottenham should recall Jermain Defoe who was rested in the loss against Leeds to protect a hip injury.Premier League Betting Prediction: 1-1Dream Team Star Man: Grant Holt

Fulham v West Ham – Wednesday 30 January 2013 – 20.00 KO

West Ham are already one up on Fulham this week after beating them to the loan signing of former Middlesbrough captain Emanuel Pogatetz.

Hammers will be hoping Andy Carroll will play some part, especially after Hangeland appeared to have no answer to his strength when these sides met earlier in the season

Premier League Team News: Ex West Ham Youth boy Keiron Richardson should be fit for the home side, whilst West Hams injury crisis was added to last week with Dan Potts’ concussion. Maiga is still on international duty.Premier League Betting Prediction: 1-1Dream Team Star Man: Matty Jarvis

Southampton fans will forget about Nigel Adkins in time especially if they play as they did in the first half against Everton last week, however Everton at home and travelling to Old Trafford are very different. It will be interesting to see how Pochettino sets his Saints up defensively. Whatever happens in this game they have some breathing space above the drop zone.

United in turn will be looking to get at Southampton’s defensive lapses and stretch the lead at over City once more, with Paul Scholes hoping to get his wheels into them (lol lol lol).

Premier League Team News: Jonny Evans is still out injured for United, but Ashley Young should be fit to play. Lallana is in full training again now for The Saints and should play.Premier League Betting Prediction: 3-1Dream Team Star Man: Paul Scholes (assuming he can get a lift)

Reading v Chelsea – Wednesday 30 January 2013 – 20.00 KO

It says a lot about the style of play Rafa Benetiz likes when it takes his side to be crashing out of the FA Cup against lowly Brentford, before he opts to play two up top.

Reading will have seen how The Bees hassled and chased down everything and hope to do something similar.

Premier League Team News: Noel Hunt is The Royals big doubt after picking up a knock, whilst Petr Cech will be fit for Chelsea. Hazard is suspended and Mikel and Moses are in Africa.Premier League Betting Prediction: 1-2Dream Team Star Man: Demba Ba

There we have it, our mid-week round-up of wonderful fixtures and it’s a welcome break to the working week! Let us know what you think below!

Average Joes is an independent digital mens magazine & lifestyle blog bringing the greatest content the world has to offer to your desktop, tablet & mobile. Supplying you with the very best in Mens Style & Grooming, Sports, Autos, Culture & Film, Travel, Girls and Technology. Why not sign up to our newsletter? Join 100,000 readers each month, they can’t all be wrong?Like, Share, Subscribe.